(no longer a nanny)Kate

so i know that earlier i said i'd have something for you... my faithful few readers.

honestly, i've done next to no work today, had an hour long conversation with the parish admin. about the difficulties of being expendable (which we both are), talked to my brother about jared campbell playing near him and steven (the brother) getting to go on tour with GREEN DAY (WHOOOOOO), (btw, april 27, yeah, guess where i'll be!!!) tried to figure out how to do an egg hunt sunday (i know it's after easter, thanks) with so few kids and little time, and basically, played spider solitare most of the day. i did go to the post office, upping my steps a bit and ate most of my necessary cups of fruits and vegs. but i've been a major slacker today. like the worst i've ever been.

(at the moment too, i'm about to laugh as i listen to the backstreet boys on the radio and think of the CWOB and his brief obsession with them... ha ha ha ha) 'you are........my fire.........my one.........desire'

anyway, so i'm now attempting to think of something i can share. in keeping with the green day deal, i think i'll share a bit of my memories of green day... which clearly has only to do with their music as i've never met them.

in 1994, dookie came out. i was a senior in high school and steven, my brother, had to get the cd. we listened to it, he certainly more than i. and we discovered the 'secret song' ... 'i was all by myself'. for some reason we found it hysterically funny. and steven used to sing it, just like billie sings it. which we found even funnier. i'm telling you, that is my first recollection of them. bizarre, i know.

also in '94 i went off to college. i became friends with a guy named todd. todd loved green day. so quite often on my way across campus for chapel, you would hear 'when i come around' or 'f.o.d.' blaring out of their bedroom on the 4th floor of carp. todd was a huge fan, but never went so far as to wear eyeliner. thankfully too. he wouldn't have been able to pull it off.

after that i didn't hear much from them. till i graduated and headed off to conklin press. at that time, nimrod had been out for a while. thereby, 'time of your life' (aka good riddance) had been out for a while too. it had been used in an episode of er in fact. it was one of my favorite songs in fact. and it was on a mix tape (yes a tape) that either i or the cwob had made. regardless, it got a lot of airtime in my car, especially when a certain mr. kevin and jeffe' were in my car. (kev esp. liked the intro, which if you've heard it, you know what i mean).

the warning cd came out, and although i don't have quite the memories like previous songs, i really liked the song 'minority' and 'waiting'. and of course, the most recent release received reward as grammy winning best rock album. really liking 'holiday'. and besides all the above, i have to say, billie's still hot. (with or without the eyeliner, but really, i like him better with it.... mmm ...johnny depp in pirates too, *sigh*)

since then, they have been heard, but i wouldn't call myself a serious fan. but i like them. a lot. and especially, i still love, 'time of your life'. my fondest memory of it was as we all left thornfield for the last time after the extravaganza.

(for those not involved in my diocese, thornfield was our conference center. it was on cazenovia lake, on a really beautiful spot. our diocesan board and the previous few bishops didn't do what was needed to really take care of the place. and while it was in fair condition when i used to go as a teen, it bordered on really poor the last few years. our bishop made the decision that the buildings needed to come down and so last june they did. there was a deconsecration service held, as the one building of the four had been a chapel. and now, there is nothing there but the trees and the memorial garden. the previous december, 2003, we had an overnight for the youth and any adults of the diocese to come and spend some time in our place. say goodbye, share memories and in fact brainstorm what could be done. because at the time, we didn't know we were about to lose the buildings completely. it was good to get to say goodbye. and having not been there since, it makes it easier for me to see it still in my mind, the way it was. looking out of ridings and remembering the tranquility.) (btw, greenies, i'm still jealous you have the sign).

chris b. had the song playing in his car as he headed out, and there hasn't ever been a more perfect summation of what thornfield meant to everyone who ever stayed there. it was the most wonderful thing in all our lives. those weekends were lifesavers for all of us. they gave us life. we met people who are friends for life.

we experienced the one thing that is vital to all our lives now, in it's purest and most perfect form,

God's love.

that place held more than memories. it held more than weekends and fun and laughter. it was without a doubt the thing we all needed. which is why we all went back so many times. thornfield was everything good in life, in one place. it was love, life, strength, beauty, friendship, laughter (lots and lots of laughter), God, pranks, silliness, fun, moms and dads, nature, perfection, home. and they really were the times of our lives.

we love you thornfield. thanks for the memories.

another turning point, a fork stuck in the road.
time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.
so make the best of this test, and don't ask why.
it's not a question, but a lesson learned in time.

it's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
i hope you had the time of your life.

so take the photographs, and still frames in your mind.
hang it on a shelf in good health and good time.
tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial.
for what it's worth, it was worth all the while.

it's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
i hope you had the time of your life.

it's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
i hope you had the time of your life.

it's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
i hope you had the time of your life.


(click here to hear and see 'time of your life')